description
Object description
British schoolchild in Kingston upon Hull, GB, 9/1939-9/1944; student at Cambridge University, GB, 9/1944-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Sheffield, GB, 1926-1938: family; education; move to Kingston upon Hull, 1938. Recollections of period as schoolchild in Kingston upon Hull, GB, 1939-1944: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; parents' political outlook; question of evacuation and effect of provision of air raid shelters in city's schools; intensive German air raids from 1/1941; areas of city bombed; incendiary bomb in garden; use of Morrison Shelter in family home; pattern of German air raids; nature of air raid shelters in Kingston upon Hull; reasons for local resentment about reporting of bombing of city; nature of father's work with emergency services; effect of air raids on public morale; school attendance; disruption of sleep by air raids; slackening of air raids, 6/1941.
REEL 2 Continues: availability of food and shortages; coping with blackout; leisure activities; belief in ultimate Allied victory; change in public attitude as to morality of bombing civilians; family's attitude towards Germans and inviting German POWs to house after Second World War. Aspects of period as student at Cambridge University, GB, 9/1944-5/1945: VE Day celebrations, 8/5/1945; post-war expectations; attitude towards 1945 General Election.
